Last week I introduced a few tips for how keep energetic kids engaged in your small group. Since this is such an important topic and since there are so many great ideas, I’m continuing with that topic this week.
One of the best ways to keep energetic kids engaged in your small group is to give them a job to do. You could ask them to pass out papers, collect the pencils, throw away the trash, put the Bibles away, or any number of other things. By offering them an opportunity to be your helper, they get an opportunity to burn off extra energy they have in a valuable way. They get positive strokes for helping and feel like they are able to contribute to the group in meaningful ways.
Years ago when I was helping with the Kindergarten group in our church, I used this technique with an energetic, unfocused boy in my group. He became my assistant every week. He started showing up early to help me set up the tables and he stayed late to clean up. As he grew up, he would always save a spot for me next to him during the singing time of our Wednesday night program. We looked forward to connecting each Wednesday, even for just a few minutes.
When he was in 7th grade, I became our youth director. He was right there beside me, volunteering to help me. He joined our leadership team and was the first person to arrive for every meeting and the last person to leave. Our youth group grew and many teens came to know Jesus, largely because he invited his friends. He loved church and was extremely invested in the youth group. I trace his involvement in our youth ministry back to the opportunities he had to help in Kindergarten.
You never know what God has planned for the energetic kids in your group. Give them a chance to serve and then step back and watch what God does. In twenty years, they just might be involved in ministry and cite you as their inspiration!
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